By Richard Akintade, Osogbo
The former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs under the Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola-led administration in Osun State, Barr. Kolapo Alimi, has finaly defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), saying the State Governor, Mr Gboyega Oyetola, has divided the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Alimi, who is one of the legislative aides to Speaker of House of Representatives, Rt. Hon Femi Gbajabiamila, said APC under Governor Oyetola has been “sharply divided due to his self- centred policy”.
Alimi made this known during the official defection that took place at the state party’s secretariat, in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, on Wednesday.
While speaking, Alimi who defected alongside his supporters said: “Today I and my loyalists have moved to PDP and we plead with the people of Osun State that on July 16, they should come out en-masse to vote for senator Ademola Adeleke as the governor of the state.
“Any political observer in the state that has been monitoring political development in the state will know that shortly after his inauguration, Governor Adegboyega Oyetola started divisive politics against those he perceived as loyalists of Aregbesola.
“We have cried out to so many quarters without any solution.
“You know Aregbesola himself is a bigwig in APC, he cannot leave the party but to those of us that can no longer withstand the heat that Oyetola is using against us, we have to move out.
“We know that by the grace of God Oyetola will lose, there is no amount of power intimidation or threat that can save him. He has come, he has divided the party. Those that actually worked
for him he alienated them. He doesn’t know the value of his office that is why he cannot protect it.
“Aregbesola is a member of APC, he cannot be in support of my move but for those of us that were alienated because of our loyalty to Aregbesola and any political watcher will know that Oyetola will continue to malign Aregbesola. You cannot get any benefit from Oyetola no matter your contribution and we cannot do that so we move out.”
The PDP governorship candidate, Senator Ademola Adeleke, said he was excited to receive one of the bigwigs in APC to the PDP fold, saying the defection showed how APC would be rejected by the people of the state in the July 16 election.
He said the chances of PDP winning the election were growing, day by day, adding, “let me just say 80%”.
When asked if he was concerned about the alleged rigging of election, Adeleke said, “Well I thank the President of the federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammed Buhari who signed the electoral law; the electoral law that he signed, has already decreased the rigging; so I believe that a lot of people of Osun are wiser; they are ready to defend their votes; so I don’t believe it is going to be possible.
“It’s not by force to rule; people have to decide who they want and I believe it is me, Senator Ademola Nurudeen Adeleke,” he said.
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